Heavy Oil Exploitation

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Disciplines: Completions | Drilling | Production and Operations | Projects, Facilities, and Construction | Reservoir

Course Description

This two-day course offers a comprehensive overview of heavy oil asset development, encompassing all aspects from geology to production, transport, and upgrading. Designed for a diverse audience, including both technical and non-technical professionals within the petroleum industry, as well as university students seeking introductory exposure to the subject, the course requires a foundational understanding of organic chemistry and core principles of petroleum, mechanical, and chemical engineering. The objective is to provide participants with a broad understanding of the entire lifecycle of heavy oil development.

Day One
•    Introduction to how heavy oil is defined relative to other types of oil, the types of geology and geochemistry that give rise to heavy oil deposits.
•    Overview of the chemistry and related fluid phase behavior throughout the exploitation process.
•    Summary of mechanisms and criteria applicable for various heavy oil recovery processes.
•    Best practices of well construction and completions deployed in heavy oil reservoirs.

Day Two
•    Summary of various production and sand management practices including the artificial lift considerations.
•    Various gathering and processing techniques are deployed once the heavy oil is produced to the surface.
•    Heavy oil handling and transportation methodologies.
•    Heavy oil processing, upgrading and conversion.
 

Learning Level

Introductory to intermediate

Course Length

2 days

Why Attend

Due to their unique chemical nature, heavy crude oils present significant technical challenges. Their high viscosity and complex hydrocarbon composition necessitate innovative approaches from technical personnel. These approaches are crucial to ensure the flow of heavy oil within the porous formation, through the wellbore and flowlines, and ultimately, to enable the successful treatment and conversion of this resource into usable products.

Who Attends

This course is intended for engineers and chemists who are involved in heavy oil asset development. This course will also benefit the department head, asset and technology managers with an overview of various challenges and complexities involved in developing heavy oil fields. 

Special Requirements

Students should have a basic understanding of the petroleum engineering, organic chemistry and project management.

CEUs

1.6 CEUs (Continuing Education Units) are awarded for this 2-day course.

Cancellation Policy

All cancellations must be received no later than 14 days prior to the course start date. Cancellations made after the 14-day window will not be refunded. Refunds will not be given due to no show situations.

Training sessions attached to SPE conferences and workshops follow the cancellation policies stated on the event information page. Please check that page for specific cancellation information.

SPE reserves the right to cancel or re-schedule courses at will. Notification of changes will be made as quickly as possible; please keep this in mind when arranging travel, as SPE is not responsible for any fees charged for cancelling or changing travel arrangements.

We reserve the right to substitute course instructors as necessary.

Instructor

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